By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After battling through a murderer's row of three teams who were a combined 12-1 on the season, Washburn Rural faced another tough test Friday night at Hummer Sports Park, with the Junior Blues facing unbeaten Topeka High.
But Rural looked more like the team that advanced to the 2023 Class 6A semifinals on Friday, opening defense of its Centennial League championship with a 49-21 romp past the Trojans.
Junior TJ Minikwu rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns in Washburn Rural's 49-21 Centennial League win over Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"They put so much work into this and after last year the expectation was to do the same thing we did last year, go undefeated (in the regular season) and run that but sometimes it doesn't work out the way you want it to and you've got to re-establish the goals and figure out what you want to do,'' Rural coach Steve Buhler said. "We pressed really hard this week about the idea that it's another season, it's a second season, because we're defending our league championship from last year. So we've got four games to fight for that and the kids responded really well this week.
"Their motivation was really good, their focus was really good and they were excited to play with a lot of energy. That takes a lot of character because of what we've been through the last three weeks. We could have just kind of decided that we'll just play this thing out and see where it goes. They weren't that way. They worked really hard and had a good night tonight.''
Washburn Rural, now 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the Centennial League, took advantage of a couple of big plays early to jump in front 7-0 and never trailed, opening up a 28-7 halftime advantage and going in front 49-7 early in the fourth quarter before Topeka (4-1, 1-1) added a pair of TDs over the final 5:27.
Junior Kellan Roth caught a pair of touchdown passes in Friday's 49-21 Centennial League win over Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rural's defense stopped Topeka High on 4th-and-inches at the Trojan 29 to end High's first possession and the the Junior Blues drew a pass interference penalty on High on a 3rd-and-16 play, leading to a 6-yard touchdown pass from John Hoytal to Kellan Roth at the 7:36 mark of the opening quarter.
After stopping the Trojans on their ensuing possession, Rural junior TJ Minikwu burst loose for a 52-yard touchdown run, the first of his three TDs on the night.
Topeka High senior Tevante Ewing scored a pair of touchdowns in the Trojans' 49-21 Centennial League loss to Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High answered with a 49-yard TD pass from Zane Smith to Tevante Ewing at the 4:18 mark of the first quarter but the Trojans got no closer, with Minikwu adding a 3-yard TD and Hoytal connecting with Roth on a 16-yard scoring strike to put Rural in command by three touchdowns at the half.
Washburn Rural picked up in the second half where it left off, getting a 10-yard scoring run from Jadyn Baum, a 14-yard TD from Minikwu and a 5-yard run from Lafayette Thompson to cap its scoring.
Topeka High added its final two TDs on a 22-yard pass from Smith to Jayden Norman and a 1-yard TD from Ewing.
Washburn Rural sophomore Jadyn Baum rushed for 70 yards and a TD in the Junior Blues' 49-21 win over Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Minikwu finished his big night with a game-high 149 yards on 24 attempts while Baum, a sophomore, added 70 yards on 14 carries.
"I feel good,'' Minikwu said. "It all starts up front. It was great blocks from the o-line that helped me get to the end zone three times.
"This is good momentum. We were in a drought, so this win definitely helps us pick that confidence back up.''
Rural sophomore Ryan Austin went seven of seven on extra-point kicks.
Topeka High junior quarterback Zane Smith threw for 166 yards and twp TDs in Friday's 49-21 loss to Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Smith passed for 166 yards to pace the Topeka High offense while Saron Carter had four catches for 44 yards.
Topeka High will travel to Junction City next Friday for a Centennial League contest while Washburn Rural will be at home for a league game against Emporia.
WASHBURN RURAL 49, TOPEKA HIGH 21
Washburn Rural (2-3, 1-0) 14 14 14 7 -- 49
Topeka High (4-1, 1-1) 7 0 0 14 -- 21
Washburn Rural -- Roth 6 pass from Hoytal (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Minikwu 52 run (Austin kick)
Topeka High -- Ewing 49 pass from Smith (Norman kick)
Washburn Rural -- Minikwu 3 run (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Roth 16 pass from Hoytal (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Baum 10 run (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Minikwu 14 run (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Thompson 5 run (Austin kick)
Topeka High -- Norman 22 pass from Smith (Norman kick)
Topeka High -- Ewing 1 run (Norman kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Washburn Rural: Minikwu 24-149, Baum 14-70, Hoytal 3-20, Thompson 4-12, Booker 4-(minus)-4, Vantuyl 1-13. Topeka High: Ewing 19-48, Sanders 3-29, Smith 10-5, Team 2-(minus)-12.
Passing -- Washburn Rural: Hoytal 10-15-1, 84 yards. Topeka High: Smith 11-21-1, 166 yards.
Receiving -- Washburn Rural: Roth 3-32, Thompson 3-23, Recinos 2-5, Baum 1-13, Wright 1-11. Topeka High: Carter 4-44, Norman 3-44, Ewing 2-51, Sanders 2-27.
Punting -- Washburn Rural: Vantuyl 2-44.0. Topeka High: Norman 4-33.2.
